Meet the 2021-2022 Cohorts
Meet the entrepreneurs of the InFlight, Twende, and TwenFlight cohorts, the most expansive and mature cohorts of entrepreneurs to date. All three programs, which are part of the NEC’s comprehensive suite of services for entrepreneurs and business leaders, are for founders in any industry who are looking to scale their companies. The 2020-2021 cohort members for InFlight, Twende and TwenFlight are all based in Nashville.
Learn more about these cohorts here.
Twende
A&E Coaching Group Inc.
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Cathy Anderson
Company Description: As a business coach/consultant, I am focusing on assisting nonprofit leaders with developing their organization towards sustainability. In group settings, I provide education in areas to improve engagement and impact.
Biggest Need: Connecting the systems and scaling up my business with automated strategies and systems. The goal is to build an email list as well as a tribe on FB.
Industry: Coaching, Consulting
The Artistic Canvas
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Amber Handy
Company Description: The Artistic Canvas is an art photography service centered around a self care experience for the client.
https://www.theartisticcanvas.com/
Biggest Need: Creating engaging content, reaching a larger audience, marketing strategy.
Industry: Photography
Beautiqology+
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Nycorya Wilson
Company Description: My company is a boutique that specializes in plus size clothing for women and accessories.
https://www.beautiqologyplus.com/
Biggest Need: Build brand, increase sales, marketing, and funding.
Industry: Apparel, Business
Bring Me Home
Cohort: InFlight
Founder: CEO Carolyn Benson (founder)
Company Description: Assign QR Codes tracking label, minor children and elderly with dementia and alzheimers.
Industry: Marketing
Christ Home Care
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Sudhir (Jack) Gaur, President
Company Description: Christ Home Care is an upscale, private pay only agency, serving seniors or anyone in need in the comfort of their own homes.
Biggest Need: I am looking for mentors in the healthcare industry familiar with non-medical home care.
Industry: Home Care, Senior Care
CineSociety.Co
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Regina McCord
Company Description: Celebrating the creativity of filmmakers who happen to be women, CineSociety.Co features underrepresented emerging artists in monthly events to build a supportive film community that inspires, educates, breaks down stereotypes, and encourages bold expression free of sexism and discrimination.
Biggest Need: Technological challenges have been the greatest delay. We are not strong in marketing / social media. We believe that marketing will be the most important factor in our business success. Finding films / filmmakers will benefit from enhanced marketing efforts as well. Naturally funding sources would be beneficial to our marketing efforts.
Industry: Film
Community ConneXor
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Vickie W. Harris, Founder and CEO
Company Description: We work with social service organizations to build digitally connected provider networks that improve organizational operational efficiency to deliver services in a manner that addresses access equity and navigation burden.
https://communityconnexor.com/
Biggest Need: I am looking for a non-technical co-founder with project management skills with previous experience in social services or healthcare sectors interested in working to improve how communities deliver social services.
Industry: Community Health
The Conflict Chick Inc.
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Dawn Stone, MBA, MA. Speaker. Consultant. Coach.
Company Description: A speaker, consultant, and coach helping executives and leaders create success for themselves and their organizations through effective Conflict management, leadership, and Equity to build stronger relationships and build.
Biggest Need: I am seeking referral partners where there is conflict within teams and individuals and I seek automation of the mundane tasks within my business
Industry: Professional Service
Creative Soulz Printing
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Thomas Kelly, Owner/Operator
Company Description: We specialize in custom, affordable, printing services such as business cards, labels, banners, and other marketing materials.
https://creativesoulzprinting.com/
Biggest Need: I’m looking for mentors to help increase my brand marketing out to other businesses, mainly the B2B arena. It would also help to have a commercial printing space/equipment I could utilize to grow my business.
Industry: Business
Culture Architecture and Design, PLLC
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Joseph Cole, CEO and Founding Principal
Company Description: Culture Architecture and Design, PLLC is a full-service architecture and interior design firm. At Culture, we pride ourselves on creating compelling spaces and brands that people love.
https://www.designwithculture.com/
Biggest Need: We are seeking introductions to organizations planning to either renovate or build office spaces, retail, educational facilities, multifamily housing, or other commercial spaces.
Industry: Architecture and Interior Design
Fairpointe Planning
Cohort: Twende/ InFlight
Founder: Tanisha J. Hall, AICP, TDM-CP CEO & Principal
Company Description: Fairpointe Planning is a WMDBE firm helping city, state, and federal organizations develop innovative and equitable transportation plans using research, data analysis, and targeted stakeholder engagement.
https://fairpointeplanning.com/
Biggest Need: I am looking for mentors experienced in business development and marketing to local, state, and federal government organizations.
Industry: Government
Girl, unKnown Inc.
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Alexis Hughes- Willams
Company Description: Providing women and girls, in underserved communities, the opportunity to enhance their realities through accountability, networking and healthy social interactions by encouraging individuals to explore their social, physical and emotional development.
Biggest Need: The biggest obstacle is not having a solid and reliable team.
Industry: Non-profit
Your Goal Concierge, Inc.
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Erica Kesse, M.S., M.A., LPC-T, Master Integrative Coach and Operational Consultant
Company Description: Your Goal Concierge, Inc. is a Person Centered organization that focuses on Integrative Coaching for Helper CEOs through Master Integrative Coaching, Business Process Consultation, and the YGC Catalyst Program.
https://www.yourgoalconcierge.com/
Biggest Need: I am looking for mentors to give concrete methods and advice to scale my business.
Industry: Business
Harvest In The Rain Digital
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Amaliko Carroll
Company Description: Harvest In The Rain Digital is a trusted, professional, video production company. We specialize in Corporate Video Production, Camera Operation, Wedding Videography, Video Editing, Music Videos, Video Commercial Production and more.
https://www.harvestintheraindigital.com/
Biggest Need: Consistent clientele and marketing.
Industry: Videography
Kwench Juice Cafe
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Tara Mitchner-owner/operator
Company Description: We share our passion for nutrition, vibrant health and happiness every day, in every way. Kwench Juice Cafe’s goal is that of a multi-faceted success. Our first responsibility is providing top-quality fresh products and excellent customer service.
https://www.kwenchjuicenashville.com/
Biggest Need: I’m looking for mentors in the food and beverage industry. I opened my business during the pandemic and was unable to have a grand opening. Would like help with a “opened my business during a pandemic and kept the doors open” one year celebration.
Industry: Food/ Beverage
Music City Mancave
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Kiyona Brown- President
Company Description: Music City Mancave is a luxury men’s grooming spa that specializes in custom hand and foot treatments.
https://www.musiccitymancave.com/
Biggest Need: MCM is looking for men that care about their hygiene regime to educate the culture “men” about the health importance and benefits of hand and foot grooming.
Industry: Spa, Wellness
Remington Holt Consulting
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Remington Holt
Company Description: Remington is a consultant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in schools who specializes in developing sustainable systems of equity and training educators who serve Black and Brown students, families, and communities.
https://www.remington-holt.com/
Biggest Need: Budgets, revenue, lack of a business plan/goals, social media presence/advertisement/reach/marketing.
Industry: Consulting, Education
Southern Flare
Cohort: Twende
Founders: Calvin Gatlin and Lovely Lancaster
Company Description: Named “Nashville’s Mecca of Cigars” Southern Flare is an upscale cigar retail and lounge establishment located in the heart of Rutherford county.
https://southernflarecigars.com/
Biggest Need: We are looking to build our relationships with corporate partners in order to co- brand events and sponsor community related initiatives that impacts our local community.
Industry: Cigar Lounge
TM INC.
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Timothy Burkhead
Company Description: The TM App is the Slack of the music touring industry.
Biggest Need: Our industry has completely shut down. Our service and software are profitable when there are tours on the road. We are finding ways to continue to innovate and adapt to customers in and out of the music industry.
Industry: Music, Touring
TySy, LLC
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Sydney Graham Sturgis – Founder & CEO, Tyler Sturgis – President of Sales
Company Description: TySy, LLC is a mobile technology company focused on providing customers with a piece of mind. TySy’s SAPH app alerts emergency contacts when loved ones are in danger.
Biggest Need: I’m looking for mentors, sponsors & investors interested in driving the needle on minority women in the tech space. (Especially in the fields of Automation & Wearables.)
Industry: Technology
VIRT Physical Therapy
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Mariana Hanna Tondo – Physical Therapist and Founder
Company Description: VIRT Physical Therapy provides one-on-one innovative, hands-off musculoskeletal virtual care with specialized physical therapists allowing greater flexibility, convenience, lower costs, and better outcomes with fewer visits.
https://www.virtphysicaltherapy.com/
Biggest Need: I am looking for connections with orthopedics doctors, other healthcare providers, and partnerships for appropriate mutual referrals as well as connections with HR departments of self-insured companies that want to reduce healthcare costs.
Industry: Healthcare
360 Inventory Solutions
Cohort: Twende
Founder: Florez Murrell
Company Description: 360 Inventory Solutions travels to homes and small businesses to document personal property and assets to provide proof of ownership to simplify insurance claims in case of a fire, theft, or natural disasters.
https://www.360inventorysolutions.com/
Biggest Need: Another app developer.
Industry: Insurance
TwenFlight
CollegeLeaps
Cohort: TwenFlight
Founder: Angie Allen: CEO and Laura Vignon: President
Company Description: CollegeLeaps is a mobile app designed to make the college admissions process understandable to every user, save precious time completing the process, and provide step-by-step instructions and guidance.
https://www.instagram.com/collegeleaps/
Biggest Need: We are looking for mentors in the edtech field and app development and monetization as well as marketing assistance.
Industry: Education Technology
Lock and Key
Cohort: TwenFlight
Founder: Tony Perrin – Designer/Owner
Company Description: A lifestyle jewelry brand for men and women honoring artisan traditions and designed for the modern world.
https://www.lockandkeydesign.com/shop-online
Biggest Need: I am looking for mentors to help continue the momentum I have created, understand how to create the proper infrastructure, while maintaining the integrity of my brand.
Industry: Apparel/ Accessories
PollyAnn’s Tea Cakes, LLC
Cohort: TwenFlight
Founder: Monica Smith, Ed.D. – founder
Company Description: Created on plantations by Black women, and passed down for generations, PollyAnn’s Tea Cakes are a uniquely soulful Southern dessert. We have two contracts with BNA and are selling online.
Biggest Need: To fulfill our awarded BNA contracts commencing Fall ’21, I need a local commercial kitchen with necessary equipment to prep, bake, and package tea cakes.
Industry: Food/ Beverage
TEQTOUCH
Cohort: TwenFlight
Founder: Gable Eaton/ Founder and CEO
Company Description: TeqTouch exists to provide tactile products that are expressive and promote the safe and healthy interaction with personal and public devices that require touch.
Biggest Need: I would like to have conversations with marketing directors to learn how transformative branding tools can help them and their clients in accessing new customers and retaining current ones as well.
Industry: Technology
Velos Labs
Cohort: TwenFlight
Founder: Mock and Amber Abdelaal
Company Description: Velos Labs makes a system that gives autonomous driving capability to military vehicles for operation in dangerous environments.
Industry: Tech, Military